Posted on 05/17/2010 6:13:42 PM PDT by raptor22
Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, speaking at the annual Navy League Exposition on May 3, gave well-deserved recognition to the dedicated men and women of the sea services who are brilliantly meeting their global responsibilities, whether at sea or land in Iraq and Afghanistan. The secretary then proceeded to lay the groundwork for major changes for the Navy's - and the country's - future.
He went on to point out the overwhelming superiority of the Navy-Marine Corps team against a litany of state forces. He acknowledged that the United States has global commitments and responsibilities. Yet, he went on to question the need for this superiority in light of the asymmetrical threats we face now and in the future.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
The Pentagon and Joint Chiefs are filled with cowards.
This is heartbreaking. Sounds like Obama has done some arm-twisting and Gates is partially raising the white flag. Much like the Science Czar who told schoolchildren that America can’t expect to always be at the top in Science. Our side (Conservative) wants to lift everyone up as high as they can reach and their side (Liberal) wants to bring everyone down to the same level. I weep for our country.
Ship building is a very serious business. It takes a lot of infrastructure and a lot of skill. Even if you have that lined up, one ship can takes years to build. If we throw away a lot of our capability and then find that we need to reclaim the ability to build a navy, we will have a long, difficult road to travel. In WWII we fought for 4 years and we put new ships in the water on a regular basis throughout the struggle. In the next war, we will fight with what we have. There won’t be any reinforcements, because it takes too long to build a ship.
Similar damage is already being done to the Air Force.
Me too. I weep and pray because our government has gone suicidal.
You’ve got to be frappin’ kidding me...
This is really one of the few SecDef’s I would not mind seeing go away...
What an absolute putz...
From Tripoli, to the Great White Fleet, WWI...up until today it's the US Navy the ensures commerce and the ability of the other military services to project power.
It's the FUNDAMENTAL BASIS of US power.
We'll lament the day we lost Reagan's 600-ship Navy with 15 Carrier Groups and 60 Attack Subs.
We're down to like, what, 340 ships that can deploy?
Likely he just feels comfortable revealing his true feelings, otherwise he would resign, if he had any honor. Personally I doubt he has any honor left, if he ever had it in the first place.
Marine son liked Gates. Haven’t heard any comments from him lately though.
Wonder what he has in mind if the Chinese decide to make a challenge?
“The Pentagon and Joint Chiefs are filled with cowards.”
They were promoted on Klintstone’s watch. What kind of officers do you suppose made flag rank under that loathsome scoundrel?
Translation: American Naval and Marine forces are far superior to other branches of our military, and to what any other country can muster. We must destroy this capability, it is simply unfair to those that want to play “King of the Hill”.
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